Kenneth Clarke

Kenneth Clarke (2 July 1940-) was the Conservative Party MP for Rushcliffe from 18 June 1970 to 6 November 2019, succeeding Antony Gardner and preceding Ruth Edwards.

Biography
Kenneth Clarke was born in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, England in 1940, and he was elected President of the Cambridge Union in 1963 by a majority of 56 votes. He was controversial by inviting fascist leader Oswald Mosley to give a speech on campus and for opposing the admission of women to the university, but he sought election to Parliament almost immediately after graduating. He was elected the Conservative Party MP for Rushcliffe in 1970, serving for 49 years. Clarke was nicknamed the "Big Beast", and he served as Lord Commissioner of the Treasury in 1974, Under-Secretary of State for Transport from 1979 to 1982, Minister of State for Health from 1982 to 1985, Minister of State for Employment from 1985 to 1987, Paymaster General from 1985 to 1987, Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from 1987 to 1988, Secretary of State for Health from 1988 to 1990, Secretary of State for Education and Science from 1990 to 1992, Home Secretary from 1992 to 1993, Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1993 to 1997, Secretary of State for Justice and Lord High Chancellor from 2010 to 2012, and Minister without Portfolio from 2012 to 2014. His pro-European views prevented him from becoming party leader in 1997, 2001, and 2005, and he retired in 2019.